Huckins Yachts

64' Huckins Seafarer

Hello Seafarer!

I'm considering the purchase of a 64' Huckins Seafarer similar to the boat you previously owned. This particular boat is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and reported to be a 1960 model year. It is in very poor condition, with an interesting story surrounding it.

You seem to have knowledge of the limited production of this particular model, do you have any information you could share with me? I've yet to see the boat in person, but hope to by this weekend. I'm going armed with my digital SLR in hand, and plan on taking as many photos as possible.

I'm familiar with Huckins as a whole, and just recently passed on the purchase of a 1952 Neptune 45' located in Jacksonville. That boat was black hulled and powered by 440 Chrysler gas engines, previously owned by a friend of mine, Chip Schultz, here in Stuart, Fla.

Also, I'm the proud owner for the past 10 years of a 1959 40' Whiticar Sportfisherman, hull number 20, which I am restoring, and about 70% complete.

Any additional information, photos, etc. would be greatly appreciated with regard to the 64'.

Thanks in advance,

Harry

El Donza?

Anyone have any images of El' Donza? Isn't that a big Huckins SF?

I hope that after our exchange of PM's, you will soon have some news and photos to share...

Chris:

Sorry for the delayed response! I just finally spoke with the owner of the 64' Huckins this evening. Turns out, the boat sunk at his dock back in October; she was pumped, floated, and the pumps were left on board to keep her afloat. Her current condition sounds rather dismal, as the engines were under, etc.

I'm awaiting photos from the owner, and making arrangements to see her in person this week or this weekend sometime. I'll go camera in hand and gladly share the findings.

Honestly, after this "revelation," I think this is probably much more of a project and undertaking than I'm willing to consider.

Harry

Attached are pics forwarded from a local Sheriff's deputy marine unit . . . who informed me the boat has been under at least 5 times in the past 5 years! But, I'm still curious to see her in person nonetheless.

It's a wonder how someone could let something as gorgeous as this Huckins simply go to **** as it has.

Harry

Looks like there's good bones left to make it a project. Too much project for me at this point in my life, but hopefully someone else sees the value in bringing her back.

Absolutely gorgeous lines and well worth saving in my opinion. I think I'm headed that way tomorrow afternoon, 15MP DSLR in hand. I'll get better pics, and see what she looks like on the inside.

Its probably mental masturbation for me at this point as well, especially considering I'm knee deep into my 40' Whiticar and not finished yet - but curiosity has gotten the best of me, and I've always been a dreamer!

Keep you posted.

Harry

53' Sportsman

Huck Fin - our 1968 53' Sportsman, formerly "Owl". Current home berth is Jupiter and usually spend summers in the Bahamas.

Owl was advertised at a great price and with systems upgrades by the previous owners it was a very attractive deal in addition to being an attractive boat.

May you have many memorable journeys - and happy memories at that - aboard.

Huckins Maintenance

Hi all,

I am seriously looking at a retirement boat now, and I would like to get some thoughts from current and former Huckins owners. I love wood boats, and I enjoy my 38' 1966 Chris Craft Sea Skiff, but it is just too maintenance intensive to consider retiring to the tropics on. Huckins yachts interest me because of their build quality, and because of their glass on cold molded construction. I would like to know how much maintenence a well preserved mid late 60's huckins is likely to require. Is it as needy as a standard carvel built boat, or is it more like a fiberglass boat in nature? Should I look at a nicely kept Huckins as a retirement platform, or should I just give up my love of wood and buy and old Hatteras?

A well preserved Huckins of that vintage is likely to demand as much maintenance as any other cold-molded fiberglass sheathed boat. The glass helps significantly, however you still have a wooden boat at heart. Huckins boats tend to have straightforward systems originally installed (in the immortal words of Colin Chapman of Lotus Cars "Simplicate and add lightness."). They're relatively easy to work on as a result. However, years are too often unkind to these boats, with successive owners adding adding adding without subtracting.

Thanks, Seafarer. Systems work doesn't bother me, I've done it forever and know the drills. It's the dread of finding out that my new/old baby needs 100k of structural woodwork that gives me nightmares. After 30 or 40 years, I would EXPECT to find places where PO's have violated glass integrity by drilling holes in decks (and who knows what else), and then not sealing them. Do you know if the Huckins boats were skinned with epoxy or polyester resin?

Work with the Huckins yard on finding your new baby. They know better than anyone else which boats are going to have big surprises. Ken Bracewell here on this site can tell you a story about a Huckins passing survey because it had a consistent sound to the hull...

I couldn't tell you offhand what they used when. Ours was polyester resin, but that doesn't mean that all others were, nor that extensive work might not have changed the decks over to epoxy or anything of the sort. Again, going back to the yard is your best bet. They have records for every boat they've built.

I have put new bottoms on two separate Huckins, and will almost certainly do so again because I love their boats. For your intended use, I think a Huckins would be terrific as long as you get one with a clean bottom. It is somewhat more difficult to see what you are getting into than with a carvel boat because the rot is encased in glass. Make sure you have a good surveyor, and talk to Dick Rogers at Huckins who knows all their boats as well as being scrupulously honest.
Best regards,
Maldwin

Finally into Contract

I've just entered into contract pending survey/trials on a 196153' Linwood, same owner for almost 20 years, yard maintained (he owns the yard and two other boats).
We looked at her 3 years ago, loved her then. My surveyor is a wooden boat guy with great references. Nice upgrades to the boat including rebuilt DD 6-71TI's. We hope to live aboard and do some cruising.
Keeping my fingers crossed! I am not a rich guy, can deal with most issues as they arise, just no MAJOR surprises!
If anyone has info on this yacht, DRY MARTINI, based in Port Washington, please let me know. I have had a couple of conversations with Carl Rogers @ Huckins...very knowledgeable and one of the reasons we went after her.
Thanks!

She looks like a good buy, along as there are no bottom issues. I refer you to my previous post, and would want to know when and where she was glassed.
The outer limit price for a new bottom is probably around $250000. I would also hope she has been rewired, as that can be expensive.
Best,
Maldwin

What a shame. I was offered that boat for free about four months ago, the owner had died and left it behind someones home. I never got a chance to see it, as I understood it, someone ended up removing it in pieces from behind the home.

No Contract

Contract not accepted by owner, broker reneged on several clauses, trying to get me to pay for all kinds of stuff. With the "rush" put on to close in mid-winter I suspect something amiss. My surveyor is a well respected wooden boat guy who has surveyed many Huckins and there was a clause "weather permitting". They even reneged on that...I offered to put the full agreed upon price in escrow now and we would close by 3/31. No mid-winter sea trials, no de/rewinterizing. No Go.
Kind of makes you wonder.
We still have two other boats on the short list...

Perhaps if she's still there toward Spring, it would make sense to go back to her.

When a seller's boat is winterized, it is the buyer's expense to re-winterize after survey whether he buys her or not. Sometimes during a mild Chesapeake Winter, we have gotten surveys and seatrials accomplished. It is typically a challenge though.

If there's no particular need to get the deal done now, why not wait?